A chemical attack against pro-lifers on their own property.
Terrorizing a Catholic church in meeting.
Calls to burn Mormon temples were sent out via gays' blogs and threats against Mormons and Catholics were posted there.
Anthrax scare at the HQ of the Mormon religion.  Churches being vandalized.
Anthrax scare at the Los Angeles Ward.
Anthrax scare at a Catholic Knights of Columbus HQ in New Haven, Connecticut.
Man received 16 stitches after being struck by a "No on Prop 8" advocate.
Burning copies of the Book of Mormon on the steps of local Mormon Wards

Theater director driven out over gay marriage

From intimidation tactics to outright violent attacks are being perpetrated on the organizations who supported Prop 8 all across this nation.  This is terrorism and in every case, if the roles had been reversed the legal actions that would have been taken not to mention the media coverage that would have been dedicated to 'informing' the public would have sparked an outrage that would have undermined any credibility of those organizations.  However, since the crimes are being committed by a protected group, the media have been all but silent and in at least one case the commentator equated the criminal activity with that of the victims of that crime calling both sides hate filled and angry.

This episode of obfuscation is but one more step toward the outright persecution and expunging of religion and conservatism in our land.  City councils have in the past condemned the religious organizations for their stance on the issue of family values in opposition to calling the same sex relationship equivalent and God ordained marriage.  We are headed for dark times in this world as believers.  Though there are official gay voices denouncing this behavior, they are being drowned out by the vast numbers of very vocal proponents of their agenda. 

Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council
"We are going to see, I think, unprecedented attacks against our faith through measures like the hate crimes [legislation] to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act," he says. "We're going to see attacks on innocent human life through the Freedom of Choice Act, trying to erase all the gains that have been made in the pro-life movement. And I think even our freedoms are going to come under attack." 

Please act immediately to defend the pro-family victory won in California last week when the people of California passed a constitutional amendment (Proposition 8) by a 52%-48% margin to protect marriage as the union of a man and a woman.  Since Election Day, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) has made statements supporting demonstrations against Proposition 8, and urging California 's Supreme Court to block the amendment's enforcement.

History Of Man:  from bondage to spiritual faith, from spiritual faith to great courage, from courage to liberty, from liberty to abundance, from abundance to selfishness, from selfishness to complacency, from complacency to apathy, from apathy to dependency, from dependency back to bondage – Alexander Tylers

The great cycle of faith living can be modified, interrupted, as seen in the several Jesus movements over this past century.  The Azusa Street outpouring and many other examples were exactly that.  A movement back toward Christ and the faithful church.  We who believe should first pray and then act in accordance with the Spirit who guides us.  It is very likely that the California Supreme court will again try to thwart the will of Californians to support this lobbying agenda to ruin everything this country was built upon.  Its not just the issue of homosexual marriage, its naming pornography free speech and devaluing the life of every human being.  There is so much more going on than destroying the family values that have made and kept this country strong.  Eventually, it will come down to the demonizing of our world view.

Wafa Sultan is a psychologist.  An Arab born and raised woman who has rejected Allah and has come into the knowledge of his prophet's murderous ways.  Its all well and good that you come to know the truth about people in your life, but it is known as backbiting and gossip to go discussing those faults with anyone other than the person with whom you have found fault.

Dr. Sultan goes on al-Jezeera TV and makes her case with the religious authorities of the land.  Her criticism is against their religion, their government, and their proponents.  I have transcribed the entire video for your perusal.  

Quote:  When I examined the Koran, the hadiths, and the Islamic books under my microscope, I came to the absolute conviction that it is impossible - impossible! - for any human being to read the biography of Muhammad and believe in it, and yet emerge a psychologically and mentally healthy person.  Do you remember the way that (the prophet Muhammad) killed 'Asmaa bint Marwan?  His followers tore her body apart limb from limb, while she was breastfeeding her child.  When they returned to him shouting "Allah Akbar," he said; "No two goats would lock horns over her."  As you know, goats lock horns over the most inconsequential thing.  For Muhammad, however, the killing of a woman while breastfeeding was too trivial an incident for goats "to lock horns over."  Is this a prophet of God?  It makes me very sad that al-Jazeera TV allows an insane and terroristic creature like al-Qaradhawi to use it as a medium for the spreading of his poisons, his terroristic fatwas, and his babbling.  The words he used against me incited many young Muslims who have been brainwashed and blindfolded and who have programmed to hate, to rain curses and threats upon me, right after the show in which he discussed my appearance on al-Jazeera TV.  When Islam considers women to be deficient in reason, and I refute this assertion - in that case Islam attacks me, and I am merely attacking back.  When Islam calls to kill whoever does not believe in it and I refute this, in that case Islam attacks me, and I am merely attacking back.    I do not attack Islam, I criticize it, but unfortunately, we the victims of Islamic upbringing, view any criticism as an attack.  I always focus on the language - the language of Islam.  The language of Islam is a negative, dead language, replete with violence, anger, hatred and racism.    Man is the product of language, the outcome of the negative and positive language to which he is exposed in his lifetime.  If his life is dominated by negative language, he will emerge as a negative, reckless, and non-productive person, who rejects everything.  On the other hand, if positive language dominates his life, he will emerge as a positive, happy, and productive person.  This is why the negative language of Islam has failed.  It has failed to produce people with a spontanious and positive outlook.  It has produced negative people.  If we take a look at Islamic societies, we see what that negative man did.  I do not view Islam as a religion - according to my notion of religion.  Islam is a political doctrine, which imposes itself by force.  Any doctrine whatsoever that calls to kill those who do not believe in it is not a religion.  It is a totalitarian doctrine that imposes itself by force.  When I read, for example, the verse:  "The adulterer and the adulteress - flog each of them with a hundred stripes, and do not let compassion for them move you."  I do not discern any spirituality in this verse.  When a certain faith manages to strip its believers of their last grain of compassion, it strips them of their spirituality as well.  Jesus Christ is the symbol of peace.  He did not carry a sword, chop off heads, or accuse anyone of heresy.  The problem in Islam is that if we were to act similarly to the Christians of the Middle ages, and were to model our lives after the life, actions, and words of Muhammad, we would find ourselves in an even bigger mess than the one we are in, and we would end up with Osama bin Laden and his ilk.  Read about the life of Muhammad.  What do you find there?  Nothing but his raids and his wives, in addition to his hadiths, some of which make you shudder.  I shudder when I hear the hadith:  "A woman's paradise is under her husband's foot."  The Islamic teachings have become dreadful in the skulls of the Muslims.  I see no alternative but to open up these skulls, and to clean the life-threatening cancerous cells in these brains.  When the Syrian people swarmed the Danish embassy and burned it down, it burned my heart too.  Why?  The Syrian people is dying of hunger.  The Syrians, despite their (ancient) civilization, chase after their daily bread.  Why don't they swarm the palace of their president, who has 40 billion dollars in European bank accounts, and burn down the palace, along with its occupant?  They swarmed the Danish embassy giving the West the wrong image of the moral and civilized Syrian people.  Therefore, I describe their conduct as barbaric and backward.  The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a religious conflict.  I support the Palestinian cause.  I support the Palestinian children.  I lose sleep over the suffering of Palestinian women.  I cannot even step on an ant, so how could I possibly be against them?  This is inconceivable.  This is a political conflict, and they should ask their leaders about what they have done to resolve this problem.  But the problem is rooted in religion.  A week or two ago, I read a short story in an Islamic book, according to which Muhammad was walking with some of his followers when they heard a commotion.  They asked him:  "What is this, Messenger of Allah?"  He said:  "These are the Jews being tormented in the grave."   Regardless of the conflicts Muhammad had with the Jews back then, this statement indicates that the graves of their ancestors were in Saudi Arabia, correct?  -Yes.  They are people of this region as is evident from the Islamic books and the Koran itself.  The problem with the Muslims is that they do not distinguish between their prophet and their own noses.  When you criticize Muhammad, his actions, and his life, it is as if you chopped off their noses. 

Dr. Sultan is risking her life to speak the truth to the very people she is criticizing.  So it should be with you, if you are an honorable person, that you would take your criticism to the person you have complaint against.  If you they will not listen, the Bible says that you should then bring a brother, that is to say somebody you both trust and respect.  If they still will not listen, then you are to take the matter to the elders in your church and hopefully your pastor will come with you to speak your complaint.  In a secular format, this advice still applies.  You find somebody you can both respect and have them come with you to speak to this person and if they still will not listen, then who do you go to?  The police?  Maybe you can go on TV?  Again, there is real value in having a religious group with whom you can appeal your case.

FAITH

Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary defines faith as; 1. Confidence in or dependence on a person or thing trustworthy.  2. Belief without need of certain proof.  3. Belief in God or religious writings.  4. A system of religious belief.  5. Allegiance. Contrast --bad faith  Deceit; dishonesty.  –in faith, Indeed; truly.  –in good faith with honorable intentions.  –to break faith 1. To betray one's principals or beliefs.  2. To break a promise.  –to keep faith 1. To adhere to one's principals or beliefs.  2. To keep a promise.  –interj. Indeed.  [< L fidere to trust]

The New American Standard Exhaustive Concordance says

4102. pistis; from 3982; faith, faithfulness: ---faith (238), faithfulness (3), pledge (m)(1), proof (1).

3982 peitho is described as a primary word, verb; to persuade, to have confidence:-assure(1), confident(3), convinced(7), followed(m)(2), have confidence(2), having confidence(2), listen(m)(1), obey(3), obeying(1), put confidence in(2), put trust in(1), relied(1), seeking favor(1), sure(2), took advice(1), trust in(2), trusted in(1), trusting in(1), trusts in(1), urging(1), win over(1), won over(2).

Faithful 1. True or trustworthy in the performance of duty, the fulfillment of promises, etc.; loyal.  2. True in detail or accurate in description:  a faithful copy.     

--the faithful 1. The followers of a religious faith.  2. The loyal members of any group.  –faithfully,   ---faithfulness.

Faith, according to its use in the English language in one form, could be described as a very practical application of trust.  So faith is getting information, evaluating the information and deeming it true, then applying that information and acting in belief as though a proven fact.  The less proof we require to believe, the more we are said to act on faith.  The term, "blind faith" is used of absolute trust in unproven, untested information.  A second form is supernatural faith.  It is this faith that is employed by anyone who comes to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  I'll describe this form as trust in information that has been divinely revealed.  The more we know of the Bible, the more we know it to be trustworthy as the faithful word of God and this demonstrates the practical aspect of faith.  Much of it is proven faithful as we read and daily see the practical aspect of God's instruction.  Even so, veteran theologians and pastors are often heard saying, "I don't know how many times I've read that verse, but until now I'd never seen it in that light."  That scripture has been revealed.  That individual's spiritual eyes were opened to a spiritual truth and they gained spiritual understanding.

In the Greek, believe "pisteuo" 4100 (a contraction of noun and verb) is used to convey, "firmly persuaded upon hearing, a firm conviction producing a full acknowledgement of God's revelation or truth. 2 Thess 2:11-12" So at salvation we hear and are persuaded so completely as to commit the rest of our lives to Jesus.  Obviously, this is only possible through the divine intervention of an all-powerful God because previous to this event we literally cannot perceive either our need for salvation or God's willingness or ability to accept and save us.  2 Corinthians 4:2-5 

Luke 22:32, "but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail;" Acts 6:7b "and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith."  16:5 "So the churches were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily."

Romans 1:5 "through Whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles, for His name's sake,"  4:20 "Yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waiver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,"  12:3  "For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgement, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith."  Vs. 6  "And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly;  if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;"  14:1  "Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions."

1Corinthians 12:9  Supernatural  faith is spoken of as a Spiritual gift. 

While "pistis" is translated into "faith" 238 times in the New American Standard Bible, it is interesting to note that it was translated once as "pledge," once as "proof," and 3 times as "faithfulness."  Lets look at where these occur and how. We'll take them in the order they came.

At 1 Timothy 5:11-12, Paul is speaking to a young pastor of honoring a widow who is, what Paul calls "a widow indeed."  He says, "But refuse to put younger widows on the list, (list of widows indeed) for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge (pistis)."  Sounds as though they were pledging themselves to Christ as some kind of Nuns.  Paul was concerned that these young widows would disregard faith, that is to say their commitment to Christ. 

James 2:19 demonstrates the need to do more than believe, but to commit.  We work (study and meditate) to be grounded in the Word and as we stand firm in the conviction of our belief in the resurrected Christ, our faith is made solid.  Galatians 5:1-6, Philippians 2:12. The works of faith are perfected by our simply believing and acting in that belief.  These works are known as fruit.  Fruit of the Spirit are a result of living a Spirit filled life.  Works that are not as a joy unto the LORD or which are designed to impress people are not fruit of the Spirit.  To abide in Christ and have Him abide in me is to be empowered and to be faithful to live by His will (direction).  John 15:5-8

"Pistis" the same word, is used to communicate the idea of the gift of God as spoken in Ephesians 2:8,9 by the same speaker, Paul.  It becomes clear then,  responsibility on the part of the Christian is required to walk (live or act according) by faith or commitment to Christ.  This is a two-way relationship just like dating and marriage.  He has committed Himself to us and expects us to commit ourselves to Him.  Note:  He is perfect and commits Himself perfectly.  We are of a fallen, imperfect nature and our commitment is flawed with our nature.  He has provided for this in 1John 1:9.  But your faith is linked together with a joy as evidenced with Christ in Hebrews 12:2.  He suffered, looking past the torture to the joy of the kingdom completed with all the saints.  This is what we look to also.  Philippians 1:25 Paul links them together again for us, being concerned for their, "progress and joy in the faith."

Luke uses the same word describing the provision of God to empower us to victory and this is the reason for every Christian's accountability to God for faith.  Acts 17:30-31, "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man who He has appointed, having furnished proof "pistis" to all men by raising Him from the dead."

We are also called to prove, (be proof) witness through our testimony the worthiness of God for our trust.  Revelation 12:10,11  "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night.  And they (the saints) overcame him (Satan) because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death."  This all the proof we can be.

All the proof we'll ever have or need is given to us at the point of salvation when we accept that Christ was crucified and died for our sins and believe He rose from the dead.  This is the reason God will not increase our faith.  If you have faith enough for salvation, you have faith enough to raise someone from the dead, to move mountains, curse a fig tree, command a mulberry tree to be uprooted and to plant itself in the sea, or to cast out demons.

An example of this is found with Jesus teaching something especially difficult to abide by and the apostles respond with, Luke 17:5, "And the Apostles said, 'Lord increase our faith.'"  In the very next verse, Luke 17:6 Jesus answered them, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, (one of the smallest of seeds) you can say to this mulberry tree 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea.' and it would obey you." Let me say it again!  The reason God will not increase faith is because all the proof is in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead!  Hebrews 6:4-6  Faith is given by this proof.

One block to the flow of power is in lack of forgiveness.  Jesus ties these together in Mark 11:22-26.  All lack of forgiveness must to be eradicated.  The person we are most likely to hold unforgiveness for is ourselves.  1John 3:21  "If our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God."  Without assurance, confidence we have no power to stand firm in our faith.  Remember Paul's concern for the Philippians, "progress and joy in the faith."  2Thessalonians 1:11  "To this end also we pray for you always that our God may count you worthy of your calling and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power;"  To what end?  It was to glorify God.

Free will is still at work.  Everywhere through the gospels, Jesus chides the apostles for the smallness of their faith.  I have to take this as smallness of faithfulness or commitment more than belief and trust.  The word "pistis" is translated both ways.

Galations 5:22,23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness  (pistis), gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  This is the third way that Greek word translated.  And it refers to keeping our word and commitment to its completion and not just once, but as general practice.  This verse is speaking of the nature of our character.

Matthew 23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law:  justice and mercy and faithfulness, (pistis); but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others."

Romans 3:3  If some did not believe, their unbelief did not nullify the faithfulness (pistis)of God, did it?"  God does not need to trust or believe us, He has known from the foundation of time.  Yet, the same word is used here in order to convey His commitment to us.

The only place in the New American Standard Bible New Testament I could find faith being increased, was not through prayer or directly by God.  2 Thessalonians 1:3 "We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith (dedication to following Christ) in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure."  Faith (their commitment) had increased, or perhaps better translated, "firmed up" with personal experience of God's faithfulness. 

       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

. Faith is a gift of God but it is important to keep in mind that it is described partly as commitment and always implies action based on belief and commitment.

.There is physical evidence for the resurrection in the events recorded in history, but the enemy has blinded men everywhere to these.  Men deny Jesus because of their love of sin.  Jesus was seen by more than 500 men at one time after He rose from the dead.  So dramatic and effective were these appearances that time itself is measured on His existence by those who know Him.  The effect He has on those who know Him is so dramatic that their testimonies affect unbelievers and make them believers as the Father draws them.  Revelation 12:11  When they believe, He enters their hearts and they experience the personal relationship with Him and change.  2 Corinthians 3:18  And so the family of Christians grows.

In John17:17,18 Jesus is praying for all the disciples throughout all generations, "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.  As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world."  In order for us to know the truth, we have to read (hear) the truth from the Source, His love letter to us.  A.K.A. the Bible. The truth is then applied to our lives.    This is shown at 2Timothy 3:16.  "All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness."  We must have the Spirit of God for discernment of spirits and discernment of the Word.  1 John 2:27  "And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him."  In 1 Samuel 14:6-23 The king's young son and his younger armor bearer moved into the enemy camp and within about a hundred feet, slaughtered twenty soldiers of the garrison.  The Jews looked and saw the multitude of Philistines moving around and running from something in the camp.  While this is going on, the Jews have  time enough to take a census of their ranks to find out who was missing.  When they find out its Jonathon, the king takes time to talk with the priest before joining the battle in the Philistines' camp.  The words Jonathon uses to start all this were, "Come and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; perhaps the LORD will work for us, for the LORD is not restrained to save by many or by few."

As we begin to move in the ministry of faith, our commitment becomes more solid with every new experience of God's faithfulness.  Practice what you know to be God's will for righteousness in God's will.  Learn all you can of the will of God, and commit yourself to doing what you know is God's will and watch God move in power at your request.  This is not a righteousness for salvation.  That was accomplished at the cross.  But for power to glorify God as He moves with miracles, righteousness is a necessity.  James 5:16  "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."  Galations 3:11b  "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN LIVES BY FAITH."  Romans 14:23b  "Whatever is not from faith is sin."  Sin is defined as "missing the mark."   And the mark, in this case, is the will of God.

The men who followed Jesus on earth received faith from God to believe in Jesus as the Christ long before they received power from Him to do the great works that we know them for today. Stephan, the first martyr and Peter speaking boldly before thousands.  Paul and Sylas rejoicing because they were counted worthy to suffer for the Name.  All of them laying hands on and seeing miracles occur and going everywhere witnessing of the love and saving grace of God to birth new churches.

While Jesus was with them they were beginning to move in the works of faith, yet imperfectly.  Mathew 17:16  "And I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him."  In verse 20 He chides them yet again.  "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you."  Then He adds, "But this kind of demon does not go out except by prayer and fasting."

            A man of faith is a faithful and loyal man.  I like the example in the definition of faithful, "a faithful copy."  A faithful copy of Christ in love and commitment, knowing that what is set before us, in this life as well as the next, is truer than this physical existence.   The belief, the conviction of this grows more assured as I commit my life to His purposes and experience His faithfulness to do exactly what He said He'd do.  Romans 12:1  "I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." 

I must risk rejection for His sake.  He who testifies of Me before men, I will testify of to My Father, and he who denies me before men, I will deny before the Father.******  To be a man of faith means I speak the truth He tells me to speak to whom He tells me to speak at the time He tells me to speak.  I stand up for righteousness even if no other man stands with me.  I willingly look a fool to obey His command to lay hands on and pray for healing and release or to publicly worship Him.  If I am to be a man of faith, I must willingly pour my life out for Him as He did for me.  This is what it means to "Take up your cross and follow Me."  Matthew 10:38  ------------------------He said we could expect to be rejected and hated because we represent Him and He was rejected and hated.****  Paul and Sylas rejoiced at the fact they were counted worthy to suffer for Him*****  In all works of faith and every thought we are to filter our hearts through the love (agapeo) of Christ and men.  Our motivation must be for the good pleasure of God for power from on high. 

1 Corinthians 13 demonstrates the uselessness of faith without love.  We can be in total agreement with God and see the great miracles by our own hand and still not have salvation for ourselves.  God will accomplish His will through willing servants, but let us watch the motivation of our hearts for the full reward to come at His returning.  If I seek any reward for these works in the present life I forsake the reward in heaven.  Even if all I seek is to be noticed by men.  Matthew 6:1

            Some of the strongest warnings in the Bible are in regard to our faith!  It concerns me deeply for the American church overall, when I read verses like, Hebrews 3:12-19, 5:9-6:12.  Especially verses 6:4-6  "For in the case of those who have once been enlightened, (the unveiling of spiritual eyes 2Cor3:14) and have tasted of the heavenly gift (experienced salvation) and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, (The Baptism in the Spirit) and have tasted the good Word of God (recognize its validity) and the powers of the age to come, (the working of miracles) and then have fallen away, (rejected the truth) it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God, and put Him to open shame."

We may be unable to determine what's in a person's heart, but the evidence of attendance is obvious.  It has been estimated that 70% of church members simply dropout of attendance in America.  Whether they are falling away from the faith is between God and them, but we are each responsible to encourage one another in the faith.  Dropping out of attendance is a definite sign of a struggle in their faith.

Do they lose their trust in God because some immature Christian hurt them or the pastor failed to recognize their works?  More likely they lose their devotion to Christ long before such incidents.  Indeed, in some cases their may never have been the devotion to Christ.  This is the work of ministry that is least desired and most needed within church today.  The faithful man is to correct and challenge, in the care and knowledge of Agapeo love, every wayward sheep.  Search out the will of God through prayer and study before approaching them, but do not fail to go after them.  Galations 6:1  "Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted."  This is one of the finest examples of spiritual faithfulness going.  James 5:19,20  My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth, and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins."

2Timothy 2:13  "If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself."  When we fail to do what we know we should, we are able to confess that as sin, repent and try again.  1John 1:9  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  Concerning confession, I recommend confessing to a brother in Christ as it says in James 5:16  "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another that you may be healed.  The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."

My personal definition of faith is now boiled down and rendered into the old, old nine-word adage:

"God said it, I believe it, that settles it."

Except that I would add, "so I'll walk it."

***Let us see if God is willing.***  Does God want me to get married?  Does God want me to reach these bikers with the gospel?  Does God want me to work in the prison?  Does God want me to speak against homosexuality publicly?  Does God want me to reach the men's group with my testimony?  Does God want me on the mission field?  Does God want me to offer to pray for healing for this quadriplegic?  Does God want me to speak to this pastor about his Christian walk?

.This rebellion is passive aggressive.  It would be like saying to yourself, "I don't want to do that job, I'll just act like I didn't know it needed to be done and busy myself with this 'more important job' and let someone else do it."

.  To apply teaching without contemplation or meditation can get you very spiritually damaged.  I might read where God had Abraham sacrifice his son and decide to do what God called Abraham to and would very quickly find myself condemned by God and society, and rightly so.

. Gal 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

. .  We can even place faith without any information at all.  We can also replace our faith, "Whereas I once thought I could get to heaven by cleaning up my act and convincing God I am good enough for His kingdom, I now believe I can't.  I now rely on the provision of God in the finished work of Jesus Christ to get me into the kingdom of heaven."  I have removed my faith in my ability to save me and placed it in the ability of Jesus to save me.  Just as I have placed my faith in Christ, I can change my mind and remove my faith in Christ and go back to trusting my own ability.  This would mean I am a fool, but I could do it.  This is what is meant when the Bible says some fell away from the faith.  It can also mean I no longer concern myself with the kingdom of God.  Let me make it very clear here, you cannot be taken out of God's covering or redemption, but free will is still yours.  You are free to choose any other way, right or wrong.  As a Christian, I am convinced there is no other right way.  One question still remains, "Can I fall away and get resaved or am I doomed after turning away from the faith?"  My personal experience stares me in the face, else I would believe once fallen, lost forever.  We all have doubts, we all get discouraged but I walked away from the faith for 20 years and acted grotesquely.  Yet the Lord never gave up calling me and drawing me back into fellowship with Him.  I could have been doomed eternally according to the scriptures, but here I am. I'm now baptized in the Holy Spirit and more grateful than ever for His mercy and grace. I wasn't re-reborn but I was certainly resaved because I had gone back to my self destructive nature leading to death.

.

Hebrews 12:2 "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." 

. So, you say, "All I can do is ask God for more faith.  If I read the Bible and listen to the pastor teach, I've done all I can to get more faith, the rest is all on God.  If He chooses to give me more, great.  If not, there's nothing I can do about it."  Yes, we should read the Bible but, just reading or hearing the pastor and not practicing what I receive or even meditating over it (evaluating how to apply it to my life) is not profitable for faith.  ^^^^^^  In fact, these might serve only to inoculate us against faith!

. James tells us to anoint with oil, pray and see what God does.  James 5:13-15

. When we are saved,  we pray, "Jesus, I believe You died for me on the cross and that You rose from the dead.  John 3:16  I agree with You that I am a sinner.  Romans 3:23  Forgive my sin, come into my heart and make me the kind of person You want me to be. 1John 1:9  I renounce sin and commit myself to following You."  Romans 6:17

. We can place faith in worthy information and individuals or in unworthy information or individuals.   I'd always understood faith to be, "able to depend on or trust in God."  While this much is true, it really is an incomplete picture of the provision of power God has given every Christian. I see now that I've done myself a great disservice by not looking into it more fully and much sooner. 

. I've been a believer for about fifteen years and only about 5 years ago looked into the depths of what it means to have faith and to be a man of faith.  As a young Christian I wanted greater faith, more faith, better faith and sought faith through prayer and reading the Word.  I understood faith to be an essential part of Christianity.  I had asked older believers what faith is and how to get it and was quoted Hebrews 11:1  "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

Ephesians 2:8,9 "For your salvation is from Jesus Christ through faith, and that not of yourselves that you may not boast." 

Romans 10:17  "So faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ."  

These are accurate quotes, but don't they leave you with an ethereal sense of other worldliness?  Kind of like grasping smoke or eating cotton candy.  No matter how big a chunk you pull from the cone you can't fill your mouth.  As soon as it touches your tongue it just melts away.  So it was with my confidence.  I could sit in church and worship and pray with knowledge and get the holy goose bumps and all my confidence would melt at the door on the way out into the world.

You mean, God You want me to witness?"  You want me to be ready to lay hands on anyone willing at any time?  Like that unsaved woman's injured puppy and pray for healing so she could know You as a loving God.  But, w-ww-What if it doesn't work?  What if I pray and it doesn't happen?  I'd look like a fool, a religious fanatic and God, You'd look like a powerless, or even nonexistent God."

You know how we have to protect God, right?

            What I didn't understand, was that faith like love is not a feeling.  With love we make a choice to care, then feelings follow.  Similarly, faith is a choice, but confidence type feelings come only with experience.  Every time I come to circumstances greater than my experiences, my feelings are fear and nervousness.  Even so, I have the option to act according to the Word of God or what my understanding and reason indicate, or what my flesh is screaming.  "RU-U-U-UN"

. I'll caution you here to check your motives.  As a young believer, my desire for faith really was and more often than I'd like to admit, still is about having the respect and acceptance among people.  Possibly, in my immaturity and sinful nature, I value their approval even more than the approval of God.  My faith is enough for salvation but I limit God, by being such a spiritual toddler, a danger to myself and others. Faith won't be complete without complete obedience.  This doesn't mean He can't or won't use me or you to do great things, otherwise He'd be doing everything without using anyone.  Hey, if He can use an ass, then He can use me.  Numbers 22:28  Even so, He won't set me up to fail.  In fact He is working all things together for the good of those who love ********Him. 

If He'd used me as an instrument to work great miracles then, my pride might easily have poisoned my heart against Him the next time an opportunity to see a miracle arose and God chose in His sovereignty not to use me at that time. Or, if the miracle occurred and I allowed the glory to fall on me, I may have insisted it is for any believer to move in miracles at anytime.  I could stumble another young believer.  Suffice it to say, "everyone who is not God has room for improvement."  There is no greater faith than to believe Christ is the Son of God, paid for our sins on Calvary and rose from the dead.  However, our faith commitment will always need work.

Since I have abandoned my TV (except Fox News Sunday) I miss some minor things going on in our culture.  In comments on my last article Judy pointed me to Pastor Manning on YouTube.  The video I watched was intriguing because of his strong message about Barack Obama but something in your spirit hurts when you hear him speak this way.  Seeing as how the man is a pastor and as such represents the Creator, the Counselor, and the Healer I decided to watch some of his work and see what more I could learn of him. 

My criticism of liberals, Barack or Muslims has been plentiful but has never been about race or mixed race.  It has never been about the lifestyle of parents and only on the basis of their own speech, actions, and character.  It has been about their associations, affiliations, and inspirations.  I know some will criticize my frequent use of the term Islamo-Nazis but the term is accurate and I have demonstrated this fact.  They will criticize my early and continued and now firmed up suspicion that Barack is a Muslim plant but I have always given the evidence that leads me to think so and the evidence has been mounting ever since I started.

 17for the kingdom of God ^(AB)is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and ^(AC)peace and ^(AD)joy in the Holy Spirit.

 18For he who in this way ^(AE)serves Christ is ^(AF)acceptable to God and approved by men.

 19So then ^[a]we ^(AG)pursue the things which make for peace and the ^(AH)building up of one another.

 20^(AI)Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food ^(AJ)All things indeed are clean, but ^(AK)they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense.

 21^(AL)It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.

 22The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who ^(AM)does not condemn himself in what he approves.

 23But ^(AN)he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.

This passage speaks of acting in a manner which would cause others to stumble, to fall away from faith or to not accept the word of truth.  Pastor Manning, as a representative of Christ has been released from the law of Moses, but like Paul is conscripted to present himself as one separated from evil.  In today's politically correct environment to use language like nappy headed people is not acceptable and literally creates a block to many people hearing the gospel message.  I had a video of Sean Hannity correcting him on the Hannity and Colmes interview but as I was embedding it YouTube took it down.  The point is, that the general populace sees this as evil but the man's intentions are far from evil.  He genuinely loves black people and uses this speech to attract traffic to his YouTube ministry site.  In my view, the net result is negative and damages the image of Christianity to the vast majority of Americans who will only visit his sight in order to find some outrageous comment to get excited about.

Just wanted to let the community know about the new internet show from CrossActionNews called "The Voice."

Look for this show to become big.  I've been a contributor to their news site for a few months, thanks to Twana.  It looks as though these folks are on the up and coming track, so keep your eyes peeled for their shows and watch their growth.

Over at the group, "Rethinking the Church and its Relationship to the Community" I watched this video posted by Butt Rock Ken of Mark Lowry interviewing Tony Campolo.  Now I oppose Tony Campolo's work on separation of church and state, but the rest of his writings, sermons, speeches and thoughts are utterly clear, sound thinking.  In this interview he demonstrates this in recounting the difference between power and authority.  So this is the seed of this article. 

Authority
1 a (1): a citation (as from a book or file) used in defense or support (2): the source from which the citation is drawn b (1): a conclusive statement or set of statements (as an official decision of a court) (2): a decision taken as a precedent (3): testimony c: an individual cited or appealed to as an expert2 a: power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior b: freedom granted by one in authority : right3 a: persons in command; specifically : government b: a governmental agency or corporation to administer a revenue-producing public enterprise <the transit authority>4 a: grounds, warrant <had excellent authority for believing the claim> b: convincing force <lent authority to the performance>

In my experience, the church is involved in sacrificing for their community and for the world.  Every church I have been a member of (admittedly a small number) has been involved in giving food, services, and care to their communities and giving to poor and needy people around the world.  I don't mean giving out of their wealth either.  I mean often giving when they are in need.  I agree with Tony Campolo's assessment about authority and in my opinion the church does earn that authority.  While there are instances of some churches trying to impose political will on the nation at large, this is not to be confused with the authority bought and paid for by sacrificial giving.  As Mother Theresa had the moral clout to speak to college kids about their immoral lifestyles and to President Clinton about abortion, the giving church has moral clout to speak to their communities about their immoral policies.  This is where I believe Tony deviates from his own message on the separation of church and state.  Tony is himself involved in politics, why then would he suggest that the church should not be involved in the same way.  Is it the organizational aspect of the Christian voice?  What then?  Are we to leave the political power to the secularists who've demonstrated an effective collectivist activism and influence on the political system?  It would be a suicide of reason and result in the loss of our fundamental right to freedom of religion to vacate the opposition of the anti-Christian movement.

My greatest criticism goes to the main stream media and to the generation which disrespects authority.  The generation that had as one of its mantras "Never trust anybody over thirty."  Another is "Speak truth to power" as if power is by definition seats of deception and corruption.  Positions of power are not born in corruption though they have been and some currently are filled with corrupt individuals.  Jack Murtha is the first to come to mind.  Those powers were born of necessity for a civil society to function.  We try to judge which candidates would fill those roles to best benefit the society they govern.  This brings us to the crux of Christian involvement in political activism.  Who better to judge who has moral clout?  Who better to influence those powers for the benefit of society than those willing to sacrifice of themselves for that community?  The media influence on the popular view of religious people is similar to the one we see in the arena of science debate.  Christians have real reasons to debate the theory of evolution, but we have been shut out of the discussion and ridiculed for our belief in a Designer.  Our explanation for the existence of everything has been labeled 'fanatic' and 'superstitious.'  This view has progressed to the point that our belief is banned from the institutions of education.  The media continues this system of demarcation by putting a ? in front of every interview with a religious figure, yet it is those same Christians who are sacrificing of themselves to go to the drug addicted, pimps, poor, homeless, and even into the prisons to bring about real benefit to those trapped in their circumstances.

Genesis 9:5,6 "Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man.  From the hand of every man's brother I will require the life of man.  "Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man."
New King James ver.

Spirit Filled Life study helps.
Kingdom Dynamics
The sacredness of life, human worth.  Life was breathed into man by God.  Man was made in the "image" of God, and after God's "likeness" (1:26; 9:6).  Man was God's unique, spiritual, immortal, intelligent creation.  Thus, God commands, "You shall not murder" (Ex. 20:13).  To take human life is to assault the image of God in man.  Human life should be respected and reverenced.  Life, even prenatal life, is always a miracle; and no one should feel he has the right to shed the blood of an innocent human being.  The word "require" (Gen 9:5) indicates God was doing more than simply stating a rule.  He was saying that He will actually "pursue" (Hebrew darash) or "seek" a man's life in payment for the innocent life he has taken.  Let no disrespect for human life invade any mind.  Let us proclaim the value and the sacredness of life.  (Gen 3:17, Acts 17:26)

Exodus 22:2-4  "if the thief is found breaking in and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed.  "if the sun has risen on him, (if he is found out or was identified and arrested) there shall be guilt for his bloodshed.  He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.  If the theft is found alive in his hand, whether it is an ox or donkey or sheep, he shall restore double."

Nehemiah 4:14 And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them.  Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses."

Acts 25:11  "For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them.  I appeal to Caesar."

Time and time again, I hear from the anti-death penalty and anti-war proponents that Christians are hypocritical for supporting these two very necessary elements of civilized society.  Mike Farrell accused Dennis Prager of licking his lips at the eminent death of convicted murderer Tookie Williams.  The exact quote was, "You disgust me.  You sit there licking your lips about the death of another human being. You sicken me. You people are dragging us back into the caves."   Dennis Prager is not a Christian but is a practicing Jew and so holds many of the same values since Jews and Christians study the same Holy Book until you get to the New Testament.  Without getting into the debate over corporal punishment and the merits of the war option, I wanted to defend the Christian perspective that these are not the equivelant of murder.

Murder is the unjust taking of life and is entirely different in definition from killing in the scope of war and criminal justice.  So, wherever you stand on the issues, please stop obfuscating the discussion with false charges against Christianity.  Christianity is reliant upon the scriptures in the Bible (taken as a whole) for its standard of operation.  And the scriptures support both venues (war and corporal punishment) for killing in both the Old and New Testaments.  This is yet another case of non-Christians trying to judge Christians according to the Christian doctrines and standards when they have no understanding and very little knowledge of them but feel compelled to inform us of our doctrines.  I, for one, am unwilling to allow the double standards to continue in our culture where secularists attempt to hold Christians to a standard to which they will not hold themselves.  The irony here is that most believe they are holding to the principals taught in the same scriptures though they have never read them.

The conversations on recent articles have turned to the exclusivity of Jesus as the only way to God.  You can track back to the conversations here and here.  I am brought back to the event of my own conversion to dependency upon Christ from dependency on my own self will and wisdom.  Some years ago, I wrote a poem relating my relationship with God before and after.  It is my hope that the poem communicates to those who believe that Christ is one of many ways to God, something of why my personal experience is more than some wise instructions written in an ancient text.  My relationship with God is present, personal, and constant.  My relationship is no more metaphorical than was Paul's of Silas, the 12th apostle of Christ who met Him on the road to Damascus. 

The Turnaround

Peace I want, for peace I'm searching
hard to find in this world, but well worth reaching
Peace long lost if indeed I've ever known her
Peace moves not, 'tis I who is lost and losing
Not easily reached nor easily sought
too many years wasted because I thought
'twas to be found without, while 'twas within
My own self doubt, my justifying sin

I knew, I knew and seriously didn't want to,
the truth I'd been rejecting, "God is present!"
He's designed a blessing, it was my dissent
that brought me curses, the rules are for ME,
not for Him, and I couldn't see
through closed eyes, His continued plea
fell on covered ears until my pain
and endless tears convinced me my disdain
was foolishly placed against my God.
I turned my face and finally called,
"You're right, You were right all along."

JudgeRight

Christians aren't perfect.  We are sinners just like unbelievers.  The only difference is in the fact that we have accepted Christ's sacrifice to be justified before the Father and in the fact that we turned from our self will.  We have all this programming inducted into our lifestyle by parents, by friends, society, etc., and by our own desires for pleasure and security.  We have determined to read and meditate on the Bible and to employ its instruction.  In doing so, we intend to subject ourselves to the will of God, to put His will above our own.  This is not a simple thing.  For most, lack of self discipline is an early and major hurdle.  Its easy for a while, but as the new experience of absence of guilt wears off, the old habits begin to roll back in like a tide having rolled away rolls back again.  Each bad habit has to be defeated and replaced with good habits as we discover the ill they portray in the Bible's revelation.

It is in this sense, when we say we are traveling the same road as the unbeliever, but we are going in the opposite direction.  We mean we are moving toward God while the rest are moving away from Him.  Again, the Christian is not perfect.  He can still choose to move away from God and prefer to make his own choices according to his desires rather than adhere to the instruction he knows and understands the Bible gives.  Without getting into theological debates over whether this means he has rejected Christ, we recognize that the Christian walk is difficult and any person who has had to break even one habit knows, you can sway back and forth and still wind up defeating the habit.  The point I'm making here is that Christians sin.  That doesn't make him a hypocrite.  It does mean he is working out his salvation.  In the same sense, the unbeliever is not perfectly evil, disdaining the Creator.  He may be wavering between acceptance and rejection of God's will.

Since we are not perfect and still sin, we absolutely cannot depend on our works to make our way to God.  Heaven's reward by any other means than through the sacrificial payment made by Jesus Christ is named as thievery by Christ.  This grace (reward by Christ's sacrifice) is unique to Christianity.  In every other form of religion, works are counted as the only avenue to God and/or reward.  Now, this is where I have to get theological.  Why aren't good works good enough?  This verse in the letter Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus explains just one reason why works are not sufficient to get you into heaven.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves [it is] the gift of God Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
However, this verse gives the most basic reason.  God has supplied the means and to reject this sacrifice is to reject the most valuable gift God could offer.
He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. 
Luke 11:23